Public Health Emergency Preparedness

The Norwalk Health Department’s Division of Public Health Emergency Preparedness works to ensure that the City of Norwalk responds effectively to natural disasters, bioterrorism and other emergencies that could affect the health of the public. This mission is achieved through department planning and collaboration, staff and volunteer training, and public education. Additionally, the department conducts exercises and drills with local, regional, state, and community stakeholders in order to practice, evaluate, and improve existing plans.

The Norwalk Health Department is the Lead Health Department in Connecticut Mass Dispensing Area #3, which comprises both the City of Norwalk and the Town of New Canaan. As the lead, Norwalk works with and provides planning guidance to New Canaan. This collaboration ensures a coordinated response to incidents that demand the mass dispensing of antibiotics, antivirals, or other medications or the mass vaccination of the public.

In the event of a bioterrorism attack, the Norwalk Health Department is prepared to do mass dispensing and mass vaccination, providing medications or vaccinations quickly to the entire City of Norwalk population to prevent disease.

Emergency Response Team

The Health Department is building a community-based Emergency Response Team (ERT) that helps the Health Department help others. ERT volunteers assist with local health programs and respond to public health emergencies. For example, in a health emergency, ERT volunteers would help Health Department staff distribute important medicines to the public. ERT volunteers also spread messages about health and preparedness to the community. You do not need a medical background to participate in the Emergency Response Team program. The Health Department provides training.